Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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212. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of the renewable heat incentive, including supports for renewable heat and the bioenergy facility at a location (details supplied) which will use anaerobic digestion to generate electric power and heat; and if anaerobic digestion can be used as part of a renewable heat incentive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15094/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a high-level framework for Ireland's energy transition to a low carbon economy and society and identifies a range of measures and actions to support this. One key measure is the design of a new Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support scheme for a range of renewable generation technologies in the heating sector. The initial phase of the public consultations on the RHI closed in September 2015 and was designed to review the technology options that may be supported by any new scheme.

In the last month my Department has awarded a contract for an economic assessment on the costs of introducing an RHI scheme across a range of individual renewable technologies, including Anaerobic Digestion, Combined Heat and Power. This economic analysis will form an integral part of the next public consultation phase due later this year.

Before a final decision is taken on introducing an RHI, the new scheme will be subject to Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission.  If it is decided that Anaerobic Digestion, Combined Heat and Power is one of the technologies to be supported under the RHI scheme then the project identified by the Deputy would be eligible to apply for support.

My Department is currently examining correspondence received from the Deputy in relation to this facility and a substantive reply will issue shortly.